MBA in Canada: Besides being home to the tallest free standing structure in the world -the CN tower- and a co-home of the Niagara Falls, Canada is becoming a haven for international students. In fact, 7 of the world’s top 150 universities are in Canada (according to the QS World University Rankings of 2018). It’s relatively affordable education, world class resources, multi-cultural exposure and more importantly, the convenience of transition from studying to a legal working status, have made Canada a preferred choice and Canadian cities have found top spots in the list of the Top 10 Cities in the World to be a Student.
Quick Points to Note before applying for study Abroad in Canada.
Capital City:Â Ottawa
National Language: English and French
Major Cities:Â Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City, Victoria
Largest City:Â Toronto
Currency:Â Canadian Dollar
Time Zone:Â Canada (Ottawa) is 9.5 hours behind Indian Standard Time (IST)
MBA is a big investment in your future. It prepares you for more than just reading a spreadsheet or leading a team. An MBA program is a door that can welcome change and opportunity. Canadian MBA programs do just that. Universities such as Queen, McGill, Rotman and University of Canada West offer programs that give the students an opportunity to develop their skills to tackle real-world business challenges very well.
 Moreover, opting for an MBA from a country with a booming economy and a hunger for highly educated people assures good jobs after MBA in Canada.
Canada gives you more than one reason to choose it as your MBA study abroad destination. However, there may still be a few more factors that you’d like to consider before you take a decision. Below are a few pointers that may help you –
(Also read:Â Why choose to study in Canada)
The duration of MBA programs in Canada varies from just about 10 months to 2 years, making it difficult to specifically describe the curriculum. Nevertheless, we have broadly categorized the programs offered by the best MBA colleges in Canada into 4 sections:
Programs | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Duration |
 Part – time MBA | The duration of this program is 3- 6 years, which is relatively a lot longer than full time MBA. This program is more suitable for students wanting to do an MBA while working part time. |
Full – time MBA | This program usually lasts from 1- 2 years. |
Executive MBA | This program is for high level and senior professionals with good experience in the field and for students who want to gain practical experience of the corporate world while studying. |
Dual degree | A dual degree or joint degree, enables students to two degrees simultaneously. |
International MBA | In an international MBA program, students are exposed to global experiences with the help of international field study, integrated curriculum, global courses, and many other modes. I |
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Several Canadian universities offer Master of Business Administration (MBA) in many specializations. Here’s the list of some MBA specializations in Canada.
S.NO. | MBA specialization in Canada |
  1 | MBA in Finance |
  2 | MBA in Human Resource |
  3 | MBA in Operations |
  4 | MBA in Information Technology |
  5 | MBA in International Business |
  6 | MBA in Marketing |
  7 | MBA in logistics and supply chain |
  8 | MBA in Healthcare |
  9 | MBA Data Science |
Although Canada offers alluring business programs, a student needs to meet certain criteria to be eligible to undertake those MBA programs. Mentioned below are some of the eligibility factors –
The top 10 MBA colleges/ universities in Canada are listed below.
S.NO. | Colleges | Programmes offered |
1 | Ivey Business School | Full-time, Executive, dual degree |
2 | Schulich School of Business | Full time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree |
3 | Rotman School of Management | Full time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree |
4 | Desautels Faculty of Management | Full time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree |
5 | Sauder School of Business | Full-time, Part-time, dual degree |
6 | Queen’s School of Business | Full time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree |
7 | HEC Montreal | Full time, Part-time, and Executive MBA |
8 | Alberta School of Business | Full time, Part-time, Executive, and dual degree |
9 | Beedie School of Business | Full time and Part-time |
10 | Edwards School of Business | Full-time and Part-time MBA |
Just like for any other programs, the admissions for the best MBA programs in Canada tend to fill up much faster. Therefore, we highly recommend early applications. Usually, the entire application process, depending on whether the academic faculty operates within deadlines, requires approximately 10-12 weeks. Most universities charge a modest application fee as well.
Modes of Application
Important Note The admission or application process varies depending on the Canadian province. For example – If you wish to apply for Universities within Ontario, you must apply through the Ontario Universities’ Application Centre. For any other university outside Ontario, you must do so directly through the school. |
Almost all Canadian colleges accept online applications. To apply for the colleges, you will have to visit each college’s website. In most of the cases, you will have to create an account on the website where you will need to fill up your basic details, submit your scanned documents and pay your application fees. You can log in to this account to keep a track on the progress of your application.
However, please note that the process of application may vary from college to college. Please refer to the institute of your choice for more details on the application process.
Even though the application process may vary, there are some common steps that you can follow –
Steps: The common steps to applying for  MBA in Canada are as follow –
In comparison with other countries, the tuition fees and cost of living in Canada is much lower as most universities in Canada are government funded. Although international students have to pay a higher fee than native students, scholarships and financial assistance, the cost of living can be lowered.
Here’s the list of some popular colleges in Canada with their tuition Fees.
S.NO. | Universities | Tuition fees in INR per year |
1 | University of Toronto | 38 Lakhs |
2 | McGill University | 59.3 Lakhs |
3 | Cape Brenton University | 5.2 Lakhs |
4 | University of Canada West | 13.7 Lakhs |
5 | University of British Columbia | 53.7 Lakhs |
6 | University of Alberta | 17.7 Lakhs |
7 | Concordia University | 20.4 Lakhs |
8 | Dalhousie University | 10.2 Lakhs |
9 | McMaster University | 26.7 Lakhs and 25 Lakhs |
10 | Queen’s University | 76.1 Lakhs |
Also read: Top Universities in Canada
In Canada, the cost of living varies from city to city and the area in which the school is located. Also, the best estimated living expense is majorly dependent on the university you are applying to. Generally, every university provides an estimated fee and cost of living per month or year.
The table below helps you understand the approximate cost of living in Canada per month as well as the annual costs.
Average Cost of Living in Canada for a Single Person
EXPENSES | MONTHLY | ANNUAL |
Tuition | – | $8,000 |
Student Fees | – | $400 |
Health Insurance | $70 | $840 |
Textbooks | – | $600 |
On-campus Rent | $600 | $7,200 |
Mobile phone (basic package) | $30 | $360 |
Public Transport Pass | $40 | $480 |
Food & Groceries | $300 | $3,600 |
Entertainment/Shopping Expenses | $80 | $960 |
Total Expenses | $1,120 | $22,440 |
The cost of studying in Canada can be really high if you consider both tuition fees and living costs. To help you with these high costs, students can also consider applying for scholarships to study in Canada provided by Canadian universities.
Here are some of the scholarships for MBA in Canada.
Canadian universities are catering their education to students from all over the world. Keeping this in mind, many Canadian universities offer MBA programs at affordable rates. Studying at a low cost university does not mean that you will be compromising on the quality of your studies.
Here’s the list of affordable universities in Canada with their tuition fees.
S.NO. | Universities | Fees in INR per year |
1 | University of Alberta | 14.35 Lakhs |
2 | Memorial University of Newfoundland | 3.8 Lakhs |
3 | University of Prince Edward Island | 21.37 lakhs |
4 | Wilfrid Laurier University | 12.96 lakhs |
5 | University of New Brunswick | 13.09 Lakhs |
Many students believe that studying for an MBA in Canada requires having some work experience. However, this is not true for all universities in Canada. Some Canadian universities offer MBA admissions to students without work experience. Here’s the list of universities offering MBAs in Canada without work experience.
S.NO. | Canada Universities offering MBA without work experience. |
1 | Thompson Rivers University |
2 | York University |
3 | University of Toronto |
4 | Queen’s University |
5 | University of Windsor |
Canada is a land of opportunities, especially for those who have graduated from Canadian universities. The average per annum after MBA in Canada can range between C$65,000 – $86,000. International students can work in Canada for up to 3 years after their education.
Universities | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
University of Toronto | 51.81 Lakhs |
University of British Columbia | 54.93 lakh |
University of Alberta | 47.12 lakh |
Concordia University | 51.29 lakh |
McGill University | 51.01 lakh |
York University | 56.20 lakh |
Western University | 70.40 lakh |
Queen’s University | 54.93 lakh |
Read: Work permit in Canada
The typical cost for an MBA program in Canada is between $30,000 and $40,000, which is considered reasonable compared to other study abroad destinations.
The cost of an MBA in Canada is lower than that of the US and the UK, but it is unquestionably more expensive than that of business schools in Asia. The annual tuition for MBA programmes at business schools in this nation ranges from 59 lakhs to 1.4 crore INR.
No, an MBA in Canada is not free. However, there are some universities that are cheaper than others. Also, students can apply for scholarships to help them with their tuition fees.
India has far lower living expenses than Canada. Everything is more affordable, including local market food, rent and real estate, childcare, and even cell phones.
The annual cost of an MBA programme in Canada ranges from 11,18,100 to 87,97,600 INR. Indian students, in contrast, can make up to 59 lakhs to 1.4 crore INR annually. It is reasonable to conclude that earning an MBA from Canada is worthwhile.